Metal Sludge — A new post on Facebook from Quiet Riot is telling fans: “Please do NOT purchase the unauthorized illegal “reissue” of one of our past albums.”
The post is presumed to have been made by Regina Banali, the widow of the late Frankie Banali.
The band’s full statement has been screen captured and can be seen at the bottom of this article.
The Quiet Riot post made on June 16th 2022 reads: “Please do NOT purchase the unauthorized illegal “reissue” of one of our past albums from the 90’s that a record company is attempting to release tomorrow. They are in breach of contract. The contract Quiet Riot signed with them prohibits reissues, repackaging and rereleasing. This is fraudulent and we are taking legal steps to shut this down. Please don’t send money anywhere to purchase this thinking this is a legitimate product. We really appreciate our fans so much and hope none of you will buy this. Thank you. Please don’t post links to it in the comments.”
The label in question, who was not named in the Quiet Riot statement is Cleopatra Records of Los Angeles.
The release in question is the band’s 9th studio record Quiet Riot “Alive and Well” originally released in 1999 by Cleopatra Records.
Quiet Riot “Alive and Well” features the 4 classic members; Kevin DuBrow, Carlos Cavazo, Rudy Sarzo and Frankie Banali.
Now the label is re-releasing the album and have shared with the fans the following information about the reissue.
“A blockbuster deluxe edition reissue of the 1999 album that reunited the classic Quiet Riot line-up of Kevin Dubrow, Carlos Cavazo, Rudy Sarzo & Frankie Banali! Double the metal madness with this 2LP set featuring digitally remastered audio and packaged with rare demo tracks as bonus! Showcased in a gatefold jacket with vintage photos, full-color sleeves and RED & BLACK SPLATTER vinyl!”
Cleopatra Records has faced some legal issues in the past, like when Guns N’ Roses lead singer Axl Rose sued the label.
In 2004 Rose tried to stop Cleopatra Records from releasing Hollywood Rose: The Roots Of GUNS N’ ROSES a recording that featured the singer on some early era recordings but Rose was unsuccessful.
In the end, Cleopatra Records prevailed and Rose was handed the bill to pay for their attorney fees and court costs.
As seen on Brave Words in a 2005 article that reads in part: “In November 2004 and April 2005, the Court made two related rulings in favor of Cleopatra and against Rose on all of his other claims, and entered summary judgment in favor of Cleopatra. This week, on May 23, 2005, Judge Gary Allen Feess, Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, awarded Cleopatra Records’ request for attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $24,176.38.”
In addition to the Rose lawsuit, the label was also sued in 2017 by the estates of 3 deceased members and founding guitarist Gary Rossington from the band Lynyrd Skynyrd.
In November of 2018, a federal court ruled in favor of Cleopatra Records to release their biopic “Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash” which their lawsuit was trying to stop.
Cleopatra Records has been in business for 30 years, founded in1992 by Brian Perera.
The label has a long running record of signing, releasing, reissuing and repackaging music in various formats.
The company has also branched out in recent years with the addition of Cleopatra Entertainment, which is the film division of Cleopatra Records.
Beginning in 2015, the company has distributed, developed, and produced several films most of which have a strong horror and/or music component.
The release date for Quiet Riot “Alive and Well” is June 17th 2022, and Cleopatra Records is re-releasing both a Gate-Fold Double Vinyl and a Deluxe Edition Dual CD.
Stay tuned and we will try to keep you informed, thank you for reading… Metal Sludge!
